MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), in partnership with the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, is opening a COVID-19 testing and assessment centre in Hawkesbury on Monday, March 23rd, 2020. The centre is located at 750 Laurier Street in Hawkesbury, and will be open Monday through Friday each week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The aim of the testing/assessment centre is to increase access to COVID-19 testing and medical assessments for EOHU area residents, while reducing the strain on 911, EMS and hospital emergency rooms so that they can focus on urgent care,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health. “It will also reduce the risk of spreading the virus in hospitals and doctors’ offices, helping us to protect healthcare workers and other patients from COVID-19 infection.”
Testing/Assessment Centre limited to people with moderate, worsening (but non-severe) symptoms
The EOHU stresses that not everyone who is concerned that they may have COVID-19 should go to the testing/assessment centre. Only people who have worsening, but not severe, COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever and worsening cough) should go to the centre for testing and/or assessment. Not everyone may be tested; the decision to test will be based on symptoms, travel history, and contact history.
Residents with mild symptoms that can be managed at home should not show up at the centre as they will not be tested or assessed. Residents who have symptoms and are age 70 or over, or who have chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems should call the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1-800-267-7120. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing should call 911 or go to the hospital emergency room.
“HGH is grateful for this partnership with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit. This COVID-19 Assessment Centre will help protect our patients, their families, our employees and our physicians,” states Dr. Julie Maranda, Chief of Staff at the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital. “The hope is we can stay ahead of the game and prevent the spread of the virus as much as possible.”
Additional testing/assessment centres are expected to open in the region soon. The EOHU will notify the public when these centres become available.
For more information on the Hawkesbury COVID-19 testing/assessment centre, or on COVID-19 in general, visit www.eohu.ca/coronavirus.
Media Contact
For more information about this press release, please contact Sandra Labelle at 613-933-1375, ext. 1218.